Following a three-fight skid that prompted his exit from the UFC, Yvel earned back-to-back stoppage victories under the RFA banner. Most recently, he delivered a first-round knockout of fellow octagon vet Houston Alexander at RFA 2.

Cruz, a decorated submission grappler, hasn’t competed since July 2011, when current UFC prospect Glover Teixeira scored a TKO victory over him at an event in Brazil. The loss snapped a five-fight win streak that followed his exit from the UFC, which came with back-to-back losses to Jeff Monson and Andrei Arlovski.

Griffin, meanwhile, makes his first appearance since a knockout loss to Bart Palaszewski at UFC 137 that prompted a pink slip from the octagon. Following a 7-2 run in the promotion that included wins over notables Clay Guida, Gleison Tibau and Rafael dos Anjos, he went 1-4 with losses to Palaszewski as well as Evan Dunham and Takanori Gomi.

Escudero also returns to the cage for the first time since back-to-back losses ended his second stint in the UFC. The winner of “TUF 8″ initially went 3-2 in the octagon, but he was cut by UFC President Dana White, who criticized the fighter for not making weight against Charles Oliveira (a fight he lost) and taking his profession lightly.

Jacob Volkmann and Mac Danzig outpointed Escudero prior to his release from the UFC.

From Our Partners

The Latest

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.